Tigers pounce on Crockett in opener
Wine Walk comes back downtown page 3
Mueller named city attorney in D.S. page 2
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News-Dispatch Volume XXXX No. 18
Serving Western Hays County, Texas since 1982
75¢
Thursday, February 6, 2020
Kinder Morgan reacts to latest lawsuit
More plaintiffs join action as company says all ROW is acquired BY ANITA MILLER A lawsuit alleging Kinder Morgan has violated the Endangered Species Act with its approach to building a natural gas pipeline through the heart of the Texas Hill Country has added new plaintiffs. The Hays County Commissioners Court voted unanimously Jan 28. to join the suit, which was
filed by the Barton Springs Edwards Aquifer Conservation District (BSEACD). The cities of Austin and San Marcos are on board, and the Kyle City Council was expected to vote on Feb. 4 too late for the News Dispatch deadline. The Hays County vote also authorized devoting $75,000 to the legal fight. Pct. 4 Commissioner Walt Smith, whose
jurisdiction much of the proposed route of the Permian Highway Pipeline (PHP) would cross, predicted the action when he issued a press release days ahead of the court’s vote. Smith noted that the suit also acknowledges the fact that because the pipeline is considered infrastructure, the company building it has the power
of eminent domain. “The action taken by the court today will continue our fight on behalf of the private property rights of the citizens of Hays County,” he said. An earlier action including many of the same plaintiffs that was filed in the spring of 2019 targeting the powerful Railroad Commission (RRC), which oversees projects like
pipelines, was thrown out within months by a district judge. In addition to Kinder Morgan, the lawsuit alleges the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) have violated terms of the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and its protections, which are supposed to extend to each listed
species. Repeating claims made by the BSEACD, Smith charged that Kinder Morgan’s refusal to get a biological opinion from USFSW or to create a habitat conservation plan in its construction of the 42-inch pipeline, which would run from the oil fields on west Texas to
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Push is on for accurate 2020 count
Nominations for Texas Women’s Hall of Fame sought AUSTIN - The Texas Governor’s Commission for Women is now accepting nominations for the Texas Women’s Hall of Fame. Nominations are open to any native or current residents of Texas, living or deceased, who have made significant contributions that have benefited the state of Texas. “The Texas Women’s Hall of Fame pays homage to the incredible contributions that women have made to the Lone Star State,” said Governor Greg Abbott. “These extraordinary women serve as examples for all Texans and will continue to inspire leaders in business, education, philanthropy, public service and more for generations to come. I look forward to recognizing the invaluable achievements of this year’s inductees.” HALL OF FAME, 2
BY ANITA MILLER
Stick up for Peace
PHOTO BY DSISD
A select group of students at Dripping Springs ISD’s Sycamore Springs Middle School who are members of the Kids for Character group recently learned about conflict resolution, respecting classmates, and how to lead positive conversations. with an inititive titled “Stick up for Peace.” They gave presentations during study halls over a three-day period, asking,”is peace in the world possible?”
SHERIFF’S RACE
Cutler leads field in fundraising BY ANITA MILLER
Democratic nomination. Cutler, of Driftwood, reported Hays County Sheriff Gary Cut- $3,500 total political contribuler is way ahead in fundraising tions and $5,626.75 in political when compared to his Repubexpenditures on Jan. 31. On that lican opponent in the March date, he also reported $47,028.27 3 primary as well as the two cash on hand. candidates in the running for the Cutler’s financial report
LAGNIAPPE
Community Skate Night moving to Thursdays through March
Community Skate Night at the Dripping Springs Ranch Park Event Center will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. on Thursdays through March 25, after which it will return to Wednesday nights at the same time. The event is open to
all ages and the cost is free. However, participants must sign a waiver (available at the venue) before skating. The venue is located at 1042 Event Center Drive, Dripping Springs, 512-894-2046.
showed $1,150 raised from within Hays County and $2,350 in contributions coming from outside the county. The largest donor, $1,000, was reported as Laurie Brown of Austin.
Stop by the Dripping Springs Farmers Market any Wednesday
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“The Triangle.” Fresh local food draws a lively mix of people of all ages who not only shop but visit and listen to live music. You’ll find locally grown fruits and vegetables, grass-fed meats, yard eggs and regionally produced honey. You can usually also There’s no better way pick up ready-made to welcome a predicted foods including Mexiearly spring than by can, Thai and Andean visiting the Dripping cuisine and gourmet Springs Farmers Market, items like olive oils and held every Wednesday handmade cheeses. from 3 to 6 p.m. at Veterand locally-produced ans Memorial Park, aka mushrooms.
Some are homeowners while others rent. Some are making their parents proud by attending college, while others do all they can to avoid notice because they lack proper documentation to even be here. Still others don’t have a permanent address, sleeping in their vehicles, camping in the woods or along local streams. All those folks are part of the population of Hays County, and all those situations provide an obstacle to the accurate count of people living in the U.S.A. that is demanded by our Constitution every 10 years via the national Census. Hays County — some 200 miles from the Mexican border, home to two thriving universities and one of the fastest-growing areas in the nation located along the business-friendly “innovation corridor”— has a population more diverse than many. But that very fact makes it hard to get an accurate count. The county’s population is just over 222,000, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, and of that, 25 to 30 percent are at risk for being undercounted. That matters, because federal funds for things ranging from infrastructure, to healthcare, education and more depend on the Census count. It’s estimated that federal assistance across the nation totals $675 billion. Although the Texas Legislature did not allocate any money to facilitate an accurate count, other sources have stepped in to help fund the Complete County Committees established by cities and counties. The Hays County Complete Count Committee (CCC) is not yet fully staffed, but the Commissioners Court on Jan. 28 ramped up its game of preparation by naming Jessica Mejia as its new part-time Census coordinator. Commissioners also approved a proclamation, which declares April 1 to be “Census Day” and notes in part that the CCC contains representatives of the business community, educational sector, faith-based community and diverse community
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